Ways to Get Downtown on Saturday for Women’s March-San Diego

North County participants can take buses to avoid railroad closure that keeps major construction projects on track

San Diego County CA— A scheduled rail closure, planned for six months, is in effect this weekend to complete significant construction and mainframe work. The rail closure affects four railroads operating on the rail corridor: North County Transit District (NCTD), Metrolink, Amtrak, and the freight carrier BNSF.

North County residents who are planning to attend the Women’s March 2018 on Saturday in Downtown San Diego can take a bus rather than a train from Amtrak and NCTD COASTER stations to the Old Town Transit Center where they can connect to train service to Santa Fe Depot. The North County Transit District and Amtrak will provide the buses for the same cost as a train ticket.

SANDAG is double-tracking much of the rail corridor to improve capacity for all four operators and to prepare for installing the light rail track for the Mid-Coast Trolley extending from the Old Town Transit Center to University City. This weekend, tracks will be moved and replaced, new crossovers will be built, and new railroad ties will be installed. Called an Absolute Work Window or AWW, a planned closure also includes maintenance if it fits in with project construction work.

In anticipation of the Women’s March 2018, the Metropolitan Transit System is increasing service along all Trolley lines.

Here are some of the options for taking transit to the event – which begins at about 10 a.m. in Waterfront Park at 1600 Pacific Highway this Saturday:

NCTD COASTER: While the COASTER will not be running, riders holding a COASTER ticket will be bused from COASTER stations to the Old Town Transit Center, where riders will take an Amtrak train to Santa Fe Depot.

Amtrak: While the rail line will be closed, riders with an Amtrak ticket will be bused from the Oceanside Transit Center and the Solana Beach Station to the Old Town Transit Center, where riders will take an Amtrak train to Santa Fe Depot.

San Diego Trolley or the bus: All San Diego Trolleys will be in service. MTS will increase Trolley service for all lines with extra cars and shorter times between trains. Bus service will be running on normal Saturday schedules.

Park at the stadium or Old Town Transit Center: For those driving to the event, there is free parking at the SDCCU Stadium where event goers can hop on the Trolley and take it to Downtown San Diego. There is also free parking at the Old Town Center. Event goers are advised that Trolleys will fill quickly prior to the start of the event.